Carrying device for containers



Dec. 1958 E. 0. THEN 2,866,543

' *CAfifiYING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 23, 1955 INVENTOR.

EDWARD 0. THEN BY M 55% FZAZw'w/ae 97% ATTORNEYS United States PatentCARRYING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS Edward 0. Then, Newark, N. J., assignorto American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New JerseyApplication December 23, 1955, Serial No. 555,041

4 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) The present invention relates generally todevices for carrying a plurality of containers and the like in 'ajuxtaposed relation as a unitary package and has particular reference tosuch a device which includes an overcap having reenforced edges forclamping engagement over a laterally projecting ledge of each of thecontainers for tying them together.

An object of the instant invention is the provision of extends over thetops of the containers to keep the tops clean.

Another object is the provision of such a carrying device which iseconomical in material and cost and which may be readily produced athigh speed, and which may be made as a flat device which is readilystacked one on top of the other to facilitate shipment and storage.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of juxtaposed containers tiedtogether with a carrying device embodying the instant invention;

Pig. 2 is a perspective view of the carrying device shown in Fig. l,with a portion broken away;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takensubstantially along a plane indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary. perspective View similar to Fig. 1, and showinga modified form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a second modified form of theinvention; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takensubstantially along a plane indicated by the line 66 in Fig. 5.

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the instant invention Figs. 1,2 and 3 of the drawings illustrate a carrying device or carrier A forcarrying a pair of fibre milk containers B disposed in juxtaposedrelation as a unitary package. The containers B preferably are of thecharacter disclosed in United States Patent 2,085,979, issued July 6,1937, to John M. Hothersall on Container.

Such a container comprises a rectangular body having fiat side walls Ewhich at their upper ends are formed with necked-in portions F and animmediately adjacent outwardly or laterally projecting peripheral endseam or ledge G surrounding and securing a flat top member H in place onthe body. In the juxtaposed relation of the containers B, two side wallsE are directly opposite each 2,866,543 Patented Dec. 30, 1958 other insubstantially contiguous relation as shown in Fig. 1. The portions ofthe ledges G for these side walls extend transversely of the package andare substantially coincident. The immediately connecting portions of theledges G, disposed at right angles to the ends of the transverse ledgeportions, extend along the two long outer edges of the package incontinuing or endwise alignment and are termed the outer longitudinallyaligned ledge portions.

The carrying device A, in its preferred form as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and3, comprises a flat heavy paper or cardboard top member 22 ofrectangular configuration, which lies fiat against the tops of thejuxtaposed containers B and bridges across the substantially coincidenttransverse portions of the ledges G as shown in Fig. 1. The top member22 although preferably made of fibre material, may also be made ofmetal, such as tin plate, black iron plate or aluminum, or may be madeof plastic or other suitable material.

The carrier top member 22 is provided with opposing channel shapedmarginal edge portions 23 (see Fig. 2) which are disposed adjacent thelongitudinally aligned portions of the ledges G of the juxtaposedcontainers for holding the carrier top member 22 in place. These edgeportions 23 extend over and beneath the ledges G in close fittingengagement therewith and into and along the adjacent necked-in portionsF of the containers, terminating near the lower edge of the portions Fas best shown in Fig. 3. These formed marginal edge portions 23 thusprovide an internal channel 24 which receives the longitudinally alignedportions of the ledges G of both containers B.

The channel shaped edge portions 23 preferably are reenforced to stiffenthem, by opposed pairs of spaced sheet metal clips 26 which conform tothe contour of the channel shaped edge portions and which are secured inplace on these'edge portions by sharp teeth 27 whichare imbedded intothe material of the carrier top member. The clips 26 along each channelshaped edge portion 23 preferably are made as individual elements butmay be made as one elongated channel shaped clip toextend along a majorportion of the carrier top member if desired.

The carrier top member 22, and its channel shaped edge portions 23extending along twooppcsing edges thereof, preferably are made, shippedand'stored' asa flat unit with the metal clips 26 in a fiat conditionand secured in place to the marginal edge portions of the top member.When the carrier is applied to a pair of juxtaposed containers B, thecarrier top member 22 is positioned on top of the containers and theoverhanging marginal edge portions 23, contained the clips 26, are bentdownwardly and inwardly over and beneath the longitudinally alignedledges G to make these marginal edge portions 23 and the clips 26,conform-to the contour of the projecting ledges to hold the top mtmber22 in place thereon. The clips 26 being bent with the marginal edgeportions 23, retain these edge portions in their channel shaped bentposition and thus reenforce these edge portions and lock them againstthe ledges G. Crease lines 23, 29 (Fig. 2) may be provided in thechannel shaped edge portions 23 to facilitate bending these edges overthe ledges G.

Thus the top member 22 is secured tightly to the containers B and tiesthem together as a unitary package for easy carrying. In order tofacilitate carrying of the package, the top member 22 is provided withan upstanding handle 31 having a finger opening 32. This handle extendsvertically above the carrier top member 22 and may be bent down flatagainst the top member to facilitate stacking for shipment and storage.

The handle 31 preferably is made of fibre material,

pending tabs 34 (Fig. 2) which extend from the lower edge of the handleand. project through a slit 35 in the top member, the tabs being bentupwardly against the inner face of the top member and secured againstdisplacement by a suitable adhesive or other medium.

Separation of the containers B from the carrier A for use individuallyis readily effected by pulling the con tainers out and longitudinally ofthe. channel shaped edge portions 23 of the carrier.

In a modified form of the invention as shown in Fig. 4, the carriertoprnember 22 is enlarged to cover the .entire top area of the twocontainers B and thus additionally serves as an overcap for keeping thetops of the containers free from foreign matter. Where parts of the.containers overlap the longitudinally aligned portionsof the ledges G,as in the. case of a bendable friction plug closure member I (Figs. 1and 4) carried on such containers, the channel shaped marginal edgeportions 23 of the carrier preferably are cut away to provide a'clearance recess .or notch 37 as shown in Fig. 4.

In a further modified form of the invention as shown .irrFigs. 5 and 6,reenforcement of the channel shaped marginal edge portions 23 to keepthem in engagement securely tie the containers together and serve tosecure them to the carrier against accidental displacement.

Although the drawings show only two juxtaposed containers B tiedtogether with. and by the carrier A, it

should be understood that more than two containers can be so tiedtogether and. carried by the carrier illustrated by elongating the.carrier to span the plurality of containers desired to be carried. Theweight of the containers is supported by the reenforced channel shapedmarginal edge portions 23. To balance this weight the handle 31preferably is connected to the carrier top member .22, midway betweenits end edges as shown in the drawings.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that-various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scopeofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A unitary carrying package comprising a plurality of juxtaposedrectangular containers having at their top ends laterally projectingperipheral ledges portions of which are disposed in substantiallycoincident transverse relation and other portions of which are disposedin longitudinally aligned relation, a flat flexible top member ofrectangular configuration overlying the top surfaces of said juxtaposedcontainers and having oppositely disposed integral channel shapedmarginal portions overhanging said longitudinally aligned ledge portionsof said juxtaposed containers, said channel shaped marginal portions ofsaid top member thence extending horizontally inwardly and closelybeneath said longitudinally aligned ledge portions and conforming to thecross sectional configuration thereof to support said containersthereby, a bendable clip member attached to the outer surface andconforming to the configuration of said channel shaped marginal portionsto reenforce the latter and to hold them in container supporting andconnecting position, and an upstanding handle member secured to said topmember for carrying said package.

2. A unitary carrying package as defined in claim 1 wherein saidbendable reenforcing clip member includes a plurality of sharp marginalteeth for securing the same to said channel shaped marginal portions ofsaid top member.

3. A unitary carrying package as defined in claim 1 wherein said carriertop member overlies the entire top surfaces of said containers to serveas an overcap for protecting said container top surfaces and maintainingthe same sterile.

4. A unitary carrying package as defined in claim 3 wherein the channelshaped marginal portions of said carrier top member are provided withrecesses for clearing obstructions on the containers adjacent thelongitudinally aligned ledge portions thereof covered by said channelshaped marginal portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,449,275 Feist Mar. 20, 1923 2,057,946 Harris Oct. 20, 1936 2,557,801Shapiro June 19, 1951 2,680,040 Gribskoy June 1, 1954 2,693,385 CavalliNov. 2, 1954

